A resident of High Shoals Road sprang into action last Saturday when a grease fire lit up in his kitchen. Oconee County Fire Chief Bruce Thaxton said the man used a garden hose to extinguish the flames before the fire department arrived. Firefighters checked the kitchen for hot spots, but found none. Some cabinets and the wall behind the stove were charred.  Here's a summary of other calls answered by the Fire Department the week of April 30- May 5: Alarm Activations April 30 2:49 p.m., 1982 Legends Drive May 1 12:00 p.m., 1280 Victoria Road 1:29 p.m., 1011 Blue Beech Point 10:28 p.m., 1520 …

A resident of Ramser Drive spotted a fire in his neighbor's yard last week and sprang into action. According to Oconee County Fire Chief Bruce Thaxton, the department received a call around 8:30 p.m. on April 22 from the man who said the small fire had spread over a 3' X 3' section of his neighbor's landscaping.  The neighbor wasn't home, so the man extinguished the fire himself, and the call to the Fire Department was cancelled. Apparently the fire was caused by pine needles that were covering a ground light, Thaxton said. Here's a summary of calls answered by the Fire Department the week of…

Oconee County Fire and Rescue personnel on Sunday, April 21, extricated the driver of a Dodge minivan using the Jaws of Life after the vehicle crashed on the SR 10 Loop near Ga. Highway 316. It happened shortly before 10:30 a.m. The minivan had overturned and landed upright, Chief Bruce Thaxton explained, and the driver was removed with through a passenger door and transported to a local hospital. Here's a summary of calls answered by the Fire Department the week of April 8-14. Auto Accidents April 17 11:01 p.m., 1240 Oconee Connector April 18 5:48 a.m., 3141 Greensboro Highway 11:24 p.m., …

At 11:16 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, Oconee County firefighters were called to 1141 Crystal Hills Drive to investigate the source of smoke detected in the house. The Oconee Enterprise reports the cause was atrributed to a burned bird nest found in a light fixture. Here's a summary of calls answered by the Fire Department the week of April 8-14. Alarm Activations April 12 1:00 a.m., 8531 Macon Highway – Friendship Presbyterian April 14 3:24 p.m., 1851 J T Elder Road Control Burn April 14 10:10 p.m., 2231 Simonton Bridge Road Illegal Control Burn April 9 8:22 p.m., 1120 Parker Creek Road …

On April 6 around 11 a.m., the engine compartment of a Nissan Frontier at Lowe's parking lot caught on fire. Oconee County Fire Department Station 1 Chief Mike Link happened to be at Lowe's at the time of the call, and he extinguished fire before the fire truck arrived, according to Chief Bruce Thaxton.  Engine 801 later added water to cool down the truck's engine, he said. The cause of the fire is unknown. Here's a summary of calls answered by the Fire Department the week of April 1-7. Alarm Activations April 2 5:13 p.m., 43 Simonton Bridge Road April 5 1:16 p.m., 1537 Daniels Bridge Road …

Here's a summary of calls answered by the Fire Department the week of March 25-31. Alarm Activations March 26 6:28 p.m., 2470 Daniels Bridge Rd – St. Mary’s Wellness Center March 30 9:21 a.m., 1121 Cobblestone Way March 31 12:14 p.m., 1031 Jessica Way Auto Accidents March 25 4:41 p.m., US Highway 441 and Price Mill Road March 28 2:47 a.m., US Highway 441 at Morgan County Line March 29 8:08 a.m., Snows Mill Road at Walton County Line March 31 10:18 a.m., Oconee Connector and Mars Hill Road 9:22 p.m., US Highway 78 and Mars Hill Road Brush Fire March 30 12:55 a.m., 4000 Block Macon Highway Car …

Oconee County Fire and Rescue on March 23 were called to an address in the 8000 block of Macon Highway around 11:15 a.m. where the regulator on a natural gas meter had ruptured and caught on fire. According to Chief Bruce Thaxton, the rupture resulted from a nearby lightning strike. There was a flame shooting from the gas meter and a bush was damaged, he said. Firefighters turned off the gas valve and the fire went out, he explained. Here's a summary of other calls answered by the Fire Department the week of March 18-24. Alarm Activations March 24 11:27 a.m., 7531 Macon Highway Auto Accidents…

Oconee County firefighters were called to a residence in the 5500 block of Atlanta Highway on Saturday around 5:30 p.m. where a lawnmower had caught on fire. According to Fire Chief Bruce Thaxton, a small area of woods also burned. The cause of fire is unknown, he said. Here's a summary of other calls answered by the Fire Department the week of March 11-17. Alarm Activations March 14 8:39 a.m., 1171 Astondale Road – UGA Equestrian Center March 16 12:02 p.m., 1111 Serenbe Court Auto Accidents March 11 11:02 p.m., Ga. Highway 316 and Jimmy Daniel Road March 12 4:10 p.m., Cole Springs Road and …

Around 8:30 a.m. Friday, March 8, Oconee County firefighters were called to the Shell gas station located at 1461 Greensboro Highway in response to a small fuel spill.  Firefighters applied oil to dry the spill. Here's a summary of other calls answered by the Fire Department the week of March 4-10. Alarm Activations March 5 4:51 p.m. 5265 Atlanta Highway – Caterpillar March 6 2:58 a.m., 1021 Wood Hollow Lane Auto Accidents March 5 12:35 p.m., Ga. Highway 316 and Oconee Connector March 8 10:50 a.m.,  Ga. Highway 316 and Dials Mill Extension 5:00 p.m., US Highway 441 and Ga. Highway 15 March 9 …

The Oconee County Fire Department responded to a single-vehicle accident on Sunday, March 3 at 11:40 a.m. where a vehicle had overturned in the 1300 block of Atlanta Highway. According to a report, firefighters removed the windshield to get the patient out of the vehicle. Here's a summary of other calls answered by the Fire Department the week of Feb. 25- March 3. Alarm Activations Feb. 26 11:53 a.m., 1018 Vend Drive  8:19 p.m., 1011 Woodridge Lane Feb. 28 4:24 a.m., 1021 Wood Hollow Lane Auto Accidents Feb. 25 9:06 p.m., 1100 Block Hale Road Feb. 26 12:18 p.m., 1100 Block Experiment Station …

Oconee County Fire and Rescue on Feb. 15 were called to a home on Shadyfield Lane where a fire had started in the wall behind a chimney. Firefighters cut approximately a 3' x 8' part of the Sheetrock and paneling to gain access and extinguish the fire in the den area, according to a report. Here's a summary of other calls answered by the Fire Department the week of Feb. 11-17. Alarm Activations Feb. 16 9:12 p.m., 1090 Acorn Court Auto Accidents Feb. 12 2:52 p.m., 1960 Experiment Station Road Feb. 17 3:55 p.m., 10 Loop & Oconee Connector Control Burn Feb. 16 9:23 p.m., 156 North Church Street …

There was smoke but no fire on the campus of St. Mary's Highland Hills retirement community Monday afternoon, according to Oconee County Fire and Rescue personnel. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene around 12:30 p.m. where smoke had reportedly been found on the second floor of the main building. Station 8 officer Danny Myung said no flames nor charred material were found.  The smoke wasn't heavy enough to warrant ventilation, he added. Myung said the cause of the smoke was unknown. "There was someone cooking in their kitchenette that was close, there was some cooking in the kitchen, …

Alarm ActivationsFeb. 78:41 a.m., 1171 Astondale Road – University Equestrian CenterFeb. 89:09 a.m., 4501 Monroe Highway – StriplingsFeb. 89:14 a.m., 2721 Hog Mountain Rd – Oconee County High SchoolAuto AccidentsFeb. 59:28 p.m., Ga. Highway 316 and Oconee ConnectorFeb. 1012:01 a.m., 1000 Block Rocky Branch Road10:20 a.m., Simonton Bridge Road and Third StreetControl BurnFeb. 98:41 p.m., 1000 Block Sweetwater CircleSmoke Odor in HomeFeb. 98:02 a.m., 1020 Elyse DriveVehicle Smoke ScareFeb. 92:22 p.m., 10 LoopThere were a total of 39 medical emergencies last week. All information was provided by…

Oconee County firefighters responded to a rubbish fire at Moreland Heights Drive at 5:49 p.m. on Feb. 1. A 20’x 20’ area of mattresses and trash piled up in the woods was burning approximately 150 feet from nearest residence, according to administrative assistant Lara Crowe. The property owner is unknown, she said. Oconee County Fire and Rescue also answered the following calls last week: Alarm Activations Jan. 28 12:53 p.m., 1130 Summit Oaks Drive 1:15 p.m., 1081 Rocky Branch Rd. – North Oconee High School Auto Accidents Jan. 28 8:52 a.m., Ga. Highway 316 and US Highway 78 Jan. 30 7:57 a.m…

Oconee County firefighters were called to 1211 McRees Mill Road on Jan. 24 around noon where a storage building was on fire. They extinguished the structure and a woods fire around the building, according to administrative assistant Lara Crowe. The cause of the fire is unknown, she said. Oconee County Fire and Rescue also answered the following calls last week: Alarm Activations Jan. 21 8:55 a.m., 1201 Bishop Farms Parkway – University of North Georgia 11:03 a.m., 2201 Ruth Jackson Road – Prince Avenue Christian School Jan. 22 7:46 p.m., 3450 New High Shoals Rd. – Family Life Enrichment …

On Dec. 29 at 8:51 p.m., Oconee County Fire and Rescue personnel were dispatched to the scene of an accident at Ga. Highway 316 and Jimmy Daniel Road. The Oconee Enterprise reported an 18-wheeler rear-ended another vehicle causing injury to one person. The Fire Department also answered the following calls last week: Alarm Activations Dec. 26 3:39 a.m., 2080 Hog Mountain Road – CVS Pharmacy 11:28 a.m., 2131 Hog Mountain Road – Dickey’s BBQ Dec.27 7:13 a.m.,9:08 a.m.,  2230 Hog Mountain Rd. – Oconee Elementary CO2 Alarm Activation Dec. 24 2:14 a.m., 2328 Whitlow Creek Drive Smoke Odor in Home …

Alarm Activations Dec. 18 9:37 a.m., 2609 Allegheny Lane Dec. 21 8:12 a.m., 23 North Main Street – Oconee Courthouse Dec. 23 1:59 p.m., 2061 Experiment Station Road – Publix 8:08 p.m., 1050 Jamestown Blvd – Oconee Youth School Auto Accidents Dec. 17 5:23 p.m., US Highway 78 near Ga Highway 316 Dec. 19 8:01 a.m., 1300 Block Dials Mill Road Dec. 22 10:59 a.m., 7500 Block Macon Highway Explosion Noise in the Area Dec. 19 8:32 p.m. Cooper Gin Road Area Illegal Control Burn Dec. 19 7:13 p.m., 1220 Dowdy Road Landing Zone Dec. 22 8:03 a.m., 2700 Block Oliver Bridge Road 2700 Block Oliver Bridge …

Oconee County Fire and Rescue personnel were called to a residence in the 1600 block of Branch Road on Dec. 10 at 5:52 p.m. to assist with a chemical spill. The resident of the property found a bottle of Dimethyl Sulfoxide -- chemical is used to treat cuts on horses-- turned over and smoke coming from it in the barn, according to administrative assistant Lara Crowe. The fire department investigated and advised the homeowner to have a private cleaning company come and clean the spill, Crowe reported. Alarm Activations Dec. 10 7:09 a.m., 1201 Bishop Farms Parkway – Gainesville College Dec. 11 3…

The following is a summary of calls Oconee County Fire Rescue answered during the week ending on Nov. 18: Alarm Activations Nov. 14 5:08 a.m., 1030 Paul Ridge Nov. 17 10:33 a.m., 1081 Laurel Chase Run 11:05 a.m., 1100 Beverly Drive Auto Accidents Nov. 12 4:48 a.m., Atlanta Highway and South Burson Avenue 6:31 p.m., Chesnutt Hill and Daniels Bridge Road Nov. 13 5:55 p.m., Hog Mountain Road and Robinhood Road 6:15 p.m., Mars Hill Road & Virgil Langford Road Nov. 14 6:11 p.m., Union Church Road & Evans Road 6:29 p.m., Highway 441 and Hog Mountain Road 6:35 p.m., 1851 Epps Bridge Road Nov. 16 6:…

The following is a summary of calls Oconee County Fire Rescue answered during the week ending on Oct. 21: Alarm Activations Oct. 18 3:02 p.m., 1911 New High Shoals Road 7:48 p.m., 1851 JT Elder Road Auto Accidents Oct. 16 11:07 a.m., Old Farmington Road near Astondale Road Oct. 17 9:41 p.m., Dials Mill Road near Monroe Highway Oct. 18 7:06 p.m., Hog Mountain Rd & Experiment Station Rd. Oct. 19 1:18 p.m., 10 Loop near Oconee Connector Tree on Power Line Oct. 19 3:43 p.m., 1221 Pine Hill Circle Woods Fire Oct. 19 3:17 p.m., 1040 Payne Road There were a total of 33 medical emergencies last week…